I visited seaside spot with award-winning beach and the best chips I've ever eaten

A seaside suburb that's just 15 minutes away from a major capital city here in the UK should be added to your autumn travel bucket list immediately. Even though there's a chill in the air now, a trip to the seaside is always a great way to blow the cobwebs off, and you can never beat those picturesque views right over the water.

I recently spent a sunny but cold day in Portobello near Edinburgh, and I can't believe I didn't visit sooner. With a high street brimming with independent shops, amazing food, and great public transport links, it's really the perfect place if you want to get off the beaten track a bit. It took just 15 minutes on the bus from the city centre, which dropped us right in the heart of the town, and immediately it was clear to see that this place was special.

Naturally, the first thing we did was headed straight down to the water for a little stroll along the seafront. The weather was brilliant and bright, although very chilly, but it was actually quite refreshing after the hour-long train from Glasgow.

Portobello's beach is two miles long, featuring a Victorian-style promenade and views out over the Forth of Firth. Being a sunny Sunday morning, it was fairly busy, with plenty of families out walking and dogs happily running across the sand.

The main thing I noticed about the beach itself was how clean it was. It's clear to see that the people of Portobello, or Porty as it's affectionately known, take great pride in their surroundings. It's a shame I waited until the autumn to visit, as I can imagine this would be an incredible spot to sit and sunbathe during the summer, and potentially even swim in the sea.

Portobello was recognised as the second best coastal town in the UK last year by JoJo Maman Bebe, and the beach has also won a Keep Scotland Beautiful award, so it's clear to see its appeal.

After a bit of time spent walking along the beach and working up an appetite, we decided it was time for some food. Right along the seafront at Portobello beach, there are so many places to eat and drink, from giant pizza slices at Civerino's to brunch and coffee at The Beach House. Many of these places have outdoor seating, so you're pretty much sitting on the beach as you eat, and it was lovley to see so many people doing so.

We opted to head to Shrimp Wreck, a seafood spot with a small but delicious looking menu. The street food stall was featured on BBC's My Million Pound Menu, and it's famous for its fish finger sandwiches - earning a finalist spot in the Birds Eye Fish Finger Sandwich Awards in 2017.

Naturally, this is what I ordered, and I can understand the hype. Battered flaky fish fillets, mushy peas and the best chips I've ever tasted, all in a soft roll, was probably the messiest thing I could have eaten, but I have no regrets.

Then it was time to properly explore the high street where the bus had dropped us off. It's located just behind the promenade, and although it wasn't as busy as the beach itself, there were still plenty of people wandering around - and crucially, plenty of shops open too.

One of the highlights for me was The Portobello Bookshop, a charming independent bookshop stacked full of novels, cookbooks and so much more. The space was bright, cosy and welcoming, and the kind of place that you could spend ages browsing and not get bored.

They also hold events, such as Q+A's with authors, so worth checking out what's on if you're planning a visit there.

Cove is another must-visit if you're a fan of a gift shop. This one was brimming with all the trinkets you could ever want, from Jellycat toys to candles and shampoo bars, as well as lovely cards and delicious-looking chocolate bars too.

The high street of Portobello might not be the biggest but it's definitely one of the most charming I've seen. There are more food and drinks places here, as well as pubs and even an Aldi, so you're not going to run out of options quickly.

One place we didn't visit which I'm really keen to go back for is the swim centre. Here in Portobello you'll find an authentic Victorian Turkish bath, one of only 11 in the UK, as well as a gym and fitness studio, so this is definitely on the agenda for next time.

If you've never paid a visit to Portobello, it really is the perfect place to spend a weekend - even now that the weather is colder. Being so close to the hustle and bustle of Edinburgh, it's ideal if you want to escape the city and spend some time eating, drinking and relaxing by the water.